Fr. Santos Mena, S.J. is the author of the recently launched Luceat Lux: The History of Xavier School.

Ruth: What inspired you to write the book?

Fr. Mena: During the preparation for the 40th anniversary celebration, Fr. Desautels was interviewed about the origins of the school and I happened to be present. His stories interested me so much that I said to myself, “I am going to write the history of the school because if this man leaves us, it would be a pity if his story will be lost forever.” So, that was the beginning.

Ruth: How did you gather all the information about Xavier’s history?

Fr. Mena: For the past 25 years, I have been in close contact with Fr. Jean Desautels, and many times I heard him tell stories about the founding of XS. So Fr. Desautels himself has been my guide. Not only did I hear the stories directly from the founder’s mouth, but I also had the privilege of getting hold of the written documents he left behind after his 11 years stay in Xavier. He knew that in founding Xavier School, he was making history, and so he carefully recorded the steps he took, the labors he underwent, and the joys he cherished in founding the school. I have five sources from which I gathered all the information I used in this book. First, (would you believe?) – the journals he kept during his eleven years in Xavier. In the evenings, he hurriedly scribbled a few things in French and mostly in English. Second, his correspondence – hundreds of letters he received from people important to the school, and copies of his own letters to them. Third, the 101 minutes written in Latin of monthly meetings with the Jesuit Council, where they talked and discussed everything pertaining to XS, from salaries of teachers and staff to student handbook. Fourth, his draft of a brief history of the school, about 100 pages in legal size, typewritten, single-spaced. Although most of the information it contained was found in his journal, the details of each event were included in the draft. Lastly, I had an informal way of gathering other necessary information – through regular conversations with Frs. Papilla, Pineau, Barbero and Cortina. Their stories somehow confirmed some of the stories included in this book, and I sometimes quoted them.

Ruth: What significant and unforgettable experiences did you encounter while writing the book?

Fr. Mena: The discovery of documents. I would say “Oh, look at this….” For instance, the letter of Pope Pius XII to the Apostolic Delegate, where he congratulated the apostolic works of the Chinese Diaspora/Overseas Chinese Missionaries. Another meaningful experience was when I learned of all the hardships and troubles Fr. Desautels had to go through at the Department of Foreign Affairs before it finally recognized Xavier School as a “suitable school” for Filipinized Chinese. Lastly, when I discovered the Magna Carta of the school which contained the features of the school that was to be Xavier.

Ruth : Did you encounter problems while writing the book?

Fr. Mena: I have not encountered any problems because I had plenty of materials. It was just that I spent a lot of time revising many things. It took me 25 – 30 revisions before I finalized some chapters of the book. Then Mrs. Relatado would edit my work, and oh, the script was crucified. After that, I submitted my book to the Jesuit quality control. We are not allowed to publish a book without passing the quality control. It was very taxing and time consuming. You see, English is not my language. Overall, I have immensely enjoyed researching and writing this book. I hope people will enjoy reading it as well.

Ruth: Did you learn something new while writing the book?

Fr. Mena: Yes. Everything was practically new to me. Fr. Desautels’s vision of the school was tremendous. He knew where the school was going – top level, competing with the best schools in Manila.  He wanted a school by which Chinese and Filipinos could be integrated – and that is what is happening now. I never heard of the Chinese-Filipino racial conflict among our students.

Ruth: Father, as I was reading the book, I realized that one of the most trying times of Xavier School was during the Filipinization process. What can you say about it?

Fr. Mena: I was not in the school at that time, but I can relate to their worries and anguish when it was happening. That is why whenever I hear criticisms from others about the school turning from Chinese to Filipino school, I feel bad, because these people have no idea what Fr. Desautels encountered in putting up this school especially during that time when he had to do a lot of work before the Department of Foreign Affairs finally recognized Xavier as a school for naturalized Filipinos.

Ruth: Father, you wrote only the first volume. How many volumes will there be?

Fr. Mena: Actually, I do not know. I have high hopes that Fr. Ari Dy will write the next volume. He has written books already and he is a good writer. He is an alumnus. I mentioned to him in passing but it was not finalized. You know, history writers should not be included in the story – history should be looked from a distance. It is very difficult to write when you are a part of it. I can say that the first volume covers the heroic times of Xavier School – the Desautels years. Maybe the next volume can be called the Zuloaga years.

Ruth: What dreams do you still have for XS?

Fr. Mena: I have no personal dreams left. What I would like to do is to just set up the school archives peacefully, quietly and faithfully. I like my work as a senior citizen, no deadlines, no targets, no pressure, and no problems. An ancient Roman author, Pliny the Younger, wrote the following, and I quote: “If you want to be remembered after you die, you have either to do something worth writing about, or at least write something worth reading.” I always liked this grain of wisdom. I have not done anything worth writing about, but after having written several books, I believe, I have finally produced a book worth reading, The Story of Xavier School.

Luceat Lux Book Signing

Mrs. Ruth O. de Luna, HS ITC Coordinator

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